Despondent

After the Brexit Referendum in 2016 and the General Election in 2017, I felt anger. But it was an anger that forced me into action. I joined a political party for the first time in my life, became more involved in a few local charities and forced myself to become more active in political life here in Shropshire. In my anger, I felt motivated to act for change.

Today, I don’t feel anger. I just feel sadness.

Overwhelmingly, the country has chosen the path of Brexit. There is clearly no appetite for a second referendum and, while I still feel like we would be better off remaining in the EU, there is unmistakably a mandate to leave. I, like most of the country, have become tired of the stalemate and while it’s not my preferred option, a Conservative majority will surely mean a seamless road to leaving the EU (although the road post-Brexit is likely to be far from seamless).

Overwhelmingly, the country has shown than there is no appetite for left wing social policy. Though I’m not Corbyn’s biggest fan, the smear campaign against him has been horrific and shameful. In rejecting Corbyn, we’ve chosen a classist liar. A buffoon of the highest calibre. What has clearly been stated by the British pubic is that we really don’t care for social justice. People who are quick to moan about long waiting times in the NHS seem to be the ones shouting most loudly against the raising of taxes. I would have happily taken a hit on my pay check if it meant that we had a properly funded NHS. I can only hope that the promises made by our Prime Minister this morning on the NHS will be kept.

My outrage this morning is not on a national level, for a Conservative majority was almost inevitable. My outrage is at a local level. I’ve watched the behaviour of my MP over the last few weeks, his arrogance and disregard for local people, his public nastiness and his outright lying. I’ve watched over the last few years as he has hidden himself from his constituents and taken payouts from the murkiest of places. I’ve watched, locally, some outstanding opponents showing a compassion and ethic that I have never seen in my MP. And yet, when it came down to it, he won an overwhelming majority. Living in a safe seat is totally frustrating and screams for a better way. There is no political justice when a man can show utter contempt for his constituents and breeze back into power for five more years of absenteeism. And don’t just take my word for it, he is well known for being one of the worst MPs in Parliament.

Here in Shropshire there is no appetite for change. Take the (now probable) North West Relief road. A hot topic at the local Hustings events. Overwhelmingly, people are tired of congestion in town, myself included. A real solution to this problem would take a complete upheaval in mindsets and a willingness to change our habits. However, it seems like most people are happy for vast swathes of our countryside to be dug up if it means that they can get to Aldi 10 mins faster.

And so, politically, I’m done. In Shropshire, my voice cannot be heard. But personally, I’m far from done. I will make personal changes for causes that I am passionate about, I will speak up for the vulnerable and I won’t stop being passionate and compassionate.

I’m done with politics but I am not done with change. Particularly pertinent at this time of year is that prophecy shouting loudly from a people longing for change: a baby is to be born and the government will be on his shoulders. Our Prince of Peace.